Cleaning Hygiene Today Cleaning Hygiene Magazine
Jamie Woodhall, UK Technical and Innovations Manager at Rentokil Specialist Hygiene provides advice on how to remove blood and other hazardous stains when cleaning crime scene sites
Most people will thankfully never have to deal with the aftermath of a traumatic event. But for those who do, the experience can be both distressing and dangerous. Whether due to an accident, medical emergency, or crime, what’s left behind often involves far more than just visible mess, and it can include serious health hazards and emotional trauma.
As a professional in hygiene and specialist cleaning, I’ve seen firsthand how essential it is to approach these situations with not just the right equipment, but also the right mindset.
Why Crime Scene Clean Up Isn’t a DIY Job
Blood, bodily fluids, and other biological materials are classified as biohazards due to their potential to transmit serious infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV. That makes a proper clean up far more complex and dangerous than most people realise. Attempting to clean these substances with domestic household products may fail to fully eliminate the risk,
This is why professional intervention is essential. Specialist clean up teams are trained to follow strict health and safety protocols and will be fully equipped with advanced Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including puncture-resistant suits, gloves, and respirators. This allows them to carry out thorough decontamination while minimising any risk of exposure. Their expertise ensures that all biohazardous materials are removed safely and that the affected area is restored to a hygienic and secure condition.
Moreover, crime scene clean up isn’t just physically hazardous, it can also be emotionally overwhelming as well, especially when violence or loss is involved. Professional teams are trained not only in decontamination techniques but also in handling these situations with discretion, sensitivity, and compassion, helping to ease the burden on those affected.
The Science Behind the Clean
Crime scene cleaning is not a matter of surface-level tidying, it’s a rigorous, methodical process rooted in science and safety. Every job begins with a detailed site assessment to evaluate the extent of contamination and determine the most appropriate decontamination protocols.
One of the advanced techniques frequently employed is Ultra Low Volume (ULV) fogging, which disperses disinfectants in ultra-fine micro-droplets. This allows for deep penetration into even the most inaccessible areas, ensuring comprehensive sanitisation.
Once all biological and hazardous materials have been neutralised, it is time to address a less visible, but equally important, issue: odour. Specialist odour control treatments are applied to eliminate any lingering smells, helping to restore not just the physical cleanliness of the space, but also its sense of safety and comfort.
Crucially, all waste generated during the process, including contaminated materials and PPE, should be treated as clinical waste and disposed of strictly through certified hazardous waste channels.
Restoring More Than Just a Space
Ultimately, crime scene cleaning is about much more than sanitisation; it’s about helping people heal. It’s the quiet, often unseen work that plays a vital role in the recovery process after traumatic events in transforming spaces marked by pain, grief, or violence into environments that feel safe, functional, and livable once again.
Professionals in this field are often called upon at all hours, responding swiftly and discreetly to situations that require both technical precision and emotional sensitivity. This work demands not only expertise and resilience but also a deep sense of empathy because in the end, it’s not just about cleaning a scene; it’s also about helping to restore peace of mind.
When the Unthinkable Happens, Knowing Who to Call Matters
Rentokil Specialist Hygiene provides expert crime scene cleaning services 24/7, working swiftly and discreetly to restore affected premises to a safe and sanitary condition.
By approaching every scene with care, precision, and empathy, we enable families, property owners, and businesses to focus on what truly matters: beginning the journey toward healing.
